We need speedy induction of 155mm/52-calibre howitzers to replace the present equipment. Our requirements being so large, the required numbers would not be available even in the world market at short notice and therefore induction itself will be a long-drawn process.

As part of its Artillery Modernisation Plan, the Army is looking at inducting several types of howitzers through inter-governmental pacts and global tenders. The last major acquisition of towed gun-howitzers was that of 400 pieces of 39-calibre 155mm FH-77B howitzers with a range of 30 km from Bofors of Sweden in 1987, which got embroiled in political controversy. This gun proved its mettle in the Kargil conflict. After about 25 years of neglect during which the 100mm and 122mm field guns of Russian origin and the indigenously developed and manufactured 75/24 howitzer joined the long list of obsolete equipment, the Army still awaits the procurement of about 1,580 howitzers of 155mm, 52-calibre. Out of these, 400 are to be procured outright and 1,180 manufactured indigenously with transfer of technology (ToT).

Trials of a modified Nexter TRAJAN 155mm/52-calibre TGS and Elbit’s refurbished, lighter ATHOS 2052 howitzer were to be held during May 2013 as a part of summer trials in the western Rajasthan desert using the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) manufactured ordnance. These tests will be followed by winter firings and the selection of one system by the Artillery Directorate to proceed to cost negotiations (the estimated budget being $2 billion). These trials constitute the fifth attempt to select a suitable 155mm howitzer for the Indian Army.

Nexter is now collaborating with Indian private defence contractor Larsen and Toubro (L&T) while Elbit has partnered with the Kalyani Group, the world’s largest forgings manufacturer headquartered in Pune. The Kalyani Group, better known as Bharat Forge, after one of its more successful subsidiaries has acquired Ruag’s entire artillery manufacturing unit in Switzerland and has set it up in Pune in 2012.

Senior Artillery officers point out that Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP), which was mooted in 1999 envisaged Rs. 5,000-7,000 crore procurement of 3,000- 3,200 of assorted calibre howitzers by the end of the Army’s Fourteenth Five Year Finance Plan in 2027. This plan has been totally wrecked because of inordinate delays in decision-making and procurement.

The FARP had envision importing, and indigenously develop and build howitzers by technology transfer agreements to private and public sector joint ventures (JVs) to equip the more than 200 artillery regiments that remain pivotal to the Army’s ‘manoeuvre by fire’ offensive capabilities and revised war-fighting doctrine.

Shortages of suitable equipment capable of delivering long-range firepower will adversely affect the Army as it faces the prospect of equipping two newly created mountain divisions in north-eastern India. China’s rapid militarisation in Tibet is worrying the military. Raising an additional Mountain Strike Corps, comprising three divisions by 2017—alongside possibly a fourth artillery division for deployment along the 4,057-km-long unresolved Chinese border—further complicates the Army’s equipment shortages.

The FARP’s proposed acquisitions include: 1,580 new 155mm/52-calibre towed gun systems (TGS); 814 mounted 155mm/52-calibre platforms; 145 offthe-shelf 155mm/39-calibre ULHs. The finance plan also envisages the outright purchase of 100, 155mm/52-calibre selfpropelled tracked (SPT) howitzer and 180 self-propelled wheeled (SPW) howitzers with another 120 to be built locally under a technology transfer agreement.

One hundred and eighty pieces of 130mm M46 Russian medium-guns have been successfully “up-gunned” to 155mm calibre with ordnance supplied by Soltam of Israel. The new barrel length of 45-calibre has enhanced the range of the gun to about 40 km with extended range ammunition. However, the project for manufacture of ammunition which was to be done by the IAI of Israel has been delayed as the firm has been blacklisted.

India has another 300, 130mm M 46 guns. In early 2012, the Army approached the Ordnance Factory Board, Kalyani Group, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), Punj Lloyd and Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (SED) with a proposal to retrofit the M46s to 155mm/45-calibre standards under the Defence Procurement Procedure’s (DPP) ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ category. Under this dispensation, local public and private sector companies are eligible to formulate JVs with foreign manufacturers to develop and build weapon systems for the Indian military. All four private companies submitted their project feasibility reports on the M46 retrofit to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in March 2012, in response to its restricted request for information (RFI) dispatched to them earlier. They now await the request for proposal (RFP).

It is now learnt that when the Bofors 155mm howitzers were procured in 1987, transfer of technology had taken place, and it has now been revealed that the OFB which had been sitting on these designs for the past 25 years, on being coaxed by the Army have now accepted to produce prototypes of 155mm/39-calibre and 45-calibre guns for trials by the Army.

Six prototypes of the Bofors FH-77B 155mm/39-calibre and 155mm/45-calibre guns built by the OFB’s Jabalpur unit are currently undergoing user trials in Rajasthan, which will be followed by another round of testing at high altitude, later in 2013. This follows several months of successful inhouse firing trials by the OFB after the MoD, under pressure from the Army, approved the acquisition of 114 indigenously built FH-77B 155mm/45-calibre towed howitzers in October 2012. Senior Army officers said this order was expected to rise to 200 guns.

Ultra Light Howitzers

One hundred and forty five ultra light howitzers (M777) are being procured from the United States through the foreign military sales (FMS) route from BAE Systems. This deal has been cleared by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security and trials have also been conducted but the deal has still not fructified. On September 13, 2013, the Defence Acquisition Council headed by the Defence Minister cleared the deal four days before the arrival of the US Deputy Secretary of Defence, Ashton B. Carter.

Counter-bombardment

Counter-bombardment (US term counterfire) capability is also being upgraded, but at a slow pace. At least about 40-50 weapon locating radars (WLRs) are required for effective counter-bombardment, especially in the plains; but only a dozen have been procured so far. In addition to the 12 AN-TPQ 37 Firefinder WLRs acquired from Raytheon, USA, under a 2002 contract worth $200 million, the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is reported to be assembling 28 WLRs. These radars will be based on both indigenous and imported components and are likely to be approved for introduction into service after extensive trials that are ongoing. The radar is expected to match the capabilities of the Firefinder system and will have a detection range of about 40 km.

Missiles

The Army has inducted the Prithvi and the Agni series of missiles and the BrahMos missiles in their operational formations. The Prithvi and the Agni series of missiles are nuclear capable missiles also capable of firing conventional warheads. The Army’s Block III version of the BrahMos missile is capable of trajectory manoeuvres and steep dive with multiple way points using advance guidance system and software.

MBRLs

Multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) Pinaka has a range of 37.5 km, can be brought into action within three minutes and can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. Pinaka can neutralise a target area of 1,000 x 800 metres. Production of rockets is in full swing. Manufacture of 40 launchers, 16 battery command posts, 40 L and 20 replenishment vehicles have been completed and systems have been handed over to the Army. Five lots of restricted high explosive rockets and 23 lots of pre-formed fragmented warhead rockets have been delivered to the Army.

UAVs

The Heron, a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Israel, has been acquired in addition to the Searcher I and II UAVs. Four troops of Herons were acquired. Medium-range battlefield surveillance radars (BFSRs) have been introduced into the inventory of the Army’s surveillance and target acquisition (SATA) units for enhancing the medium-range ground surveillance capability of the Army. The long-range observation system (LORROS) provides day and night surveillance capability up to a range of about 11 to 13 km.

The artillery combat command and control system (ACCCS) have been successfully developed and have been deployed in a large number of Corps.

Speed Up Acquisitions

The recent aggressive moves by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China in Ladakh region in the North, its claims over Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east and its nexus with Pakistan, poses considerable challenge to our military preparedness. We cannot afford to lower our guard against our likely adversaries. Superior firepower is a war winning factor and currently we are in a weak position in this respect. We need speedy induction of 155mm/52-calibre howitzers to replace the present equipment. Our requirements being so large, the required numbers would not be available even in the world market at short notice and therefore induction itself will be a long-drawn process.

Hence there is no time to lose. The lack of decisiveness of our leadership must be arrested if we have to be ready for all eventualities.